JP3775936B2 - Network facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile data that is connected to a local area network or the Internet and performs image information communication via the local area network or the Internet and a facsimile transmission method using a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure with the facsimile apparatus via the public network. The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus having a function of exchanging messages.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, facsimile data is exchanged between a local area network or the Internet and a function of performing image information communication via the local area network or the Internet and a facsimile apparatus via a public network using a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure. A network facsimile apparatus having a function to perform this function has been put into practical use.
[0003]
If such a network facsimile apparatus is used, facsimile communication over a long distance can be performed via the Internet, so that communication costs can be greatly reduced.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional apparatus, image information communication using the Internet cannot be performed unless the user knows prior to communication that the counterpart terminal has the same function. There was a situation that could not be used effectively.
[0005]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a network facsimile apparatus that can increase opportunities for image information communication using the Internet and reduce communication costs.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a network facsimile having a function of performing image information communication via a local area network or the Internet and a function of exchanging facsimile data with a facsimile apparatus via a public network using a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure. When the device ends image information communication with the facsimile device via the public network, the information received and stored from the other terminal at that time includes the mail address, and the communication result report is sent to the e-mail. If the notification is set in the terminal, it is determined whether or not the user has input an individual ID for the communication, and if it is input, to the e-mail address corresponding to the input individual ID , If not entered, to the administrator email address registered in advance, While the signal report transmitted using e-mail, not included e-mail address in the information stored in received from the remote terminal at the time, or that of notifying the communication result report e-mail to the own terminal If not set, communication result report output means is provided for recording and outputting a communication result report in which the mail address display field is omitted from the communication result report .
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn, a mail server device SM, and a network facsimile device FX are connected to the local area network LAN.
[0013]
Here, the mail server device SM is a known e-mail collection and distribution service for users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and the network network facsimile device FX. Is to provide.
[0014]
In addition, the workstation devices WS1 to WSn execute group 3 facsimile transmission procedure processing, and various types of facsimile application software (facsimile communication means) that creates and displays facsimile image information, and a local area network LAN. Various programs such as various software for exchanging data are introduced and used by a specific user. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users.
[0015]
The network facsimile machine FX is connected to an electronic mail processing function for exchanging image information and various reports as electronic mail, and a public network (PSTN), and this public network is used as a transmission path to make a group 3 facsimile. A transmission function for transmitting image information according to a transmission procedure is provided.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[0017]
In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each part of the network facsimile apparatus FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The system memory 2 is executed by the system control unit 1. The control processing program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 is unique to the network facsimile apparatus FX. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.
[0018]
The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 operates the network facsimile apparatus FX. It consists of various operation keys and various displays.
[0019]
The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 performs encoding and compression. This is for storing a large number of image information in the selected state.
[0020]
The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided.
[0021]
The network control device 11 is for connecting the facsimile apparatus to a public network (PSTN), and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.
[0022]
The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus FX to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 is connected to other data terminal apparatuses via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data between them.
[0023]
The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem 10, network The control device 11 and the local area network transmission control unit 13 are connected to an internal bus 14, and data exchange between these elements is mainly performed via the internal bus 14.
[0024]
Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.
[0025]
Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP, and more. This is performed by applying a combination with a higher layer communication protocol (so-called protocol suite). For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol.
[0026]
Further, as a protocol applied to each mail server SM for the reception confirmation or transmission request of the electronic mail addressed to the user, a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) or the like can be applied.
[0027]
In addition, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, and POP, and the data format and data structure of e-mails are issued by organizations that compile technical contents related to the Internet called IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). RFC (Request For Comments) document. For example, RFC is defined as RFC793, IP is defined as RFC793, SMTP is defined as RFC821, and e-mail formats are defined in RFC822, RFC1521, and RFC1522 (MIME (Multipurpose Mail Extension) format).
[0028]
Then, the network facsimile apparatus FX sends the read document image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN or the users of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn via the local area network LAN (or the Internet). The image information received from the other group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN to the user corresponding to the sub-address designated at that time, using e-mail, or A transfer service function for transferring image information received (by electronic mail) from the workstation WS of the local area network LAN to the group 3 facsimile apparatus of the designated public network PSTN is provided.
[0029]
In addition, for the e-mail received to the terminal itself, the image information arranged in the text information is taken out and recorded and output.
[0030]
Here, the facsimile image information is binary data, and the e-mail cannot include binary data directly. Therefore, a predetermined conversion method (for example, Base64 encoding method) is applied to read the readable information (7-bit information). The character code is included in the email. Such a format of e-mail text information is called MIME format.
[0031]
With the above configuration, the network facsimile apparatus FX executes processing as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 after completion of image information communication, and a communication result report regarding the image information communication operation or a plurality of image information communication operations. Create and output a communication management report for
[0032]
Also, this process is performed when a user performs a transmission operation on the operation display unit 7, a transmission operation performed when an image information transmission request is instructed by e-mail, and an incoming call detection from the public network PSTN. It is executed when any communication operation of the receiving operation executed in the case is completed.
[0033]
When the image information communication operation is terminated, first, it is checked whether or not the terminal is set to output a communication result report (the result of determination 101 is YES). Then, it is checked whether or not the setting for outputting the communication management report is made (decision 102).
[0034]
When the result of determination 102 is YES, it is checked whether or not communication histories corresponding to the number of communication conditions for outputting the communication management report are stored (determination 103). If the result of this determination 103 is NO, only the communication result report is output this time. Even when the result of determination 102 is NO, only the communication result report is output.
[0035]
Therefore, in this communication, it is checked whether or not the mail address is received and stored as the destination information (determination 104). When the result of determination 104 is YES, a communication result report in a predetermined format is created in which the received and stored mail address is entered, and the communication result report is recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 105). This operation is finished.
[0036]
When the result of determination 104 is NO, it is checked whether or not the terminal is set to output a normal communication result report (determination 106). When the result of determination 106 is YES, a communication result report in a predetermined format (without a mail address display field) is created, and the communication result report is recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 107). finish. If the result of determination 106 is NO, this operation is terminated at that point.
[0037]
On the other hand, when the result of determination 103 is YES, both the communication result report and the communication management report are recorded and output. In this case, first, it is checked whether or not a mail address is received and stored as destination information (decision 110). When the result of determination 110 is YES, a communication result report in a predetermined format and a communication management report in a predetermined format in which the received and stored mail address is entered are created, and the communication result report and the communication management report are generated. Is recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 111), and this operation is terminated.
[0038]
When the result of determination 110 is NO, it is checked whether or not the terminal is set to output a normal communication result report (determination 112). When the result of determination 112 is YES, a communication result report in a predetermined format (without a mail address display field) and a communication management report in a predetermined format are created, and the communication result report and the communication management report are obtained from the plotter 6. Recording is output (process 113), and this operation is terminated.
[0039]
In addition, when it is not set to output a communication result report to its own terminal and the result of determination 101 is NO, whether or not it is set to output a communication management report to its own terminal. Is checked (decision 115). When the result of determination 115 is NO, since neither a communication result report nor a communication management report is output, this operation is terminated at that time.
[0040]
Further, when the result of determination 115 is YES, it is checked whether or not communication histories for the number of communication conditions that output the communication management report are stored (determination 116). When the result of determination 116 is YES, only the communication management report is output. Therefore, a communication management report of a predetermined format provided with a column for entering the destination mail address is created, and the communication management report is recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 117), and this operation is terminated.
[0041]
Further, when the result of determination 116 is NO, it is checked whether or not the fact that a communication result report is output only when the destination information includes a mail address is set in the own terminal (determination 118). When the result of determination 108 is YES, a communication result report in a predetermined format in which the stored mail address is entered is created only when the mail address is stored as the destination information, and the communication result report is plotted. 6 is recorded and output (process 119), and this operation is terminated.
[0042]
In this way, in the present embodiment, after the image information communication is completed, when the mail address is received and stored from the other party, the received and stored in the communication result report or the communication management report. Since the user's mail address is displayed and recorded and output, the user can know that he / she is using a device having a function equivalent to this network facsimile apparatus FX for each partner, From the next transmission operation, since the e-mail can be used when transmitting the image information to the other party, the communication cost can be reduced.
[0043]
6 and 7 show other examples of processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX after completion of image information communication.
[0044]
Also, this process is performed when a user performs a transmission operation on the operation display unit 7, a transmission operation performed when an image information transmission request is instructed by e-mail, and an incoming call detection from the public network PSTN. It is executed when any communication operation of the receiving operation executed in the case is completed.
[0045]
When the image information communication operation is completed, it is checked whether the image information communication operation at that time is an image information transmission performed by receiving an e-mail (determination 201). When the result of determination 201 is NO, it is checked whether the information received and stored from the other party includes a mail address (determination 202).
[0046]
When the result of determination 202 is YES, it is checked whether or not the terminal is set to notify the communication result report by e-mail (determination 203). When the result of determination 203 is YES, the communication is performed. It is checked whether or not the user inputs an individual ID (decision 204).
[0047]
When the result of determination 204 is YES, a communication result report created for the image information communication operation at that time is transmitted to the electronic mail address corresponding to the input individual ID using electronic mail (process 205). This operation is terminated.
[0048]
If the result of determination 204 is NO, a communication result report created for the image information communication operation at that time is transmitted to the administrator e-mail address registered in advance using e-mail (process 206). This operation is finished.
[0049]
Further, when the result of determination 203 is NO and when the result of determination 202 is NO, it is checked whether or not the terminal is set to output a normal communication result report (determination 207). . When the result of determination 207 is YES, a communication result report in a predetermined format (without a mail address display field) is created, and the communication result report is recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 208). finish. If the result of determination 207 is NO, this operation is terminated at that point.
[0050]
Further, when the communication operation terminated at that time is image information transmission performed by receiving an e-mail, and the result of determination 201 is YES, the e-mail address is included in the information received and stored from the other party. Whether it is included is checked (decision 210).
[0051]
When the result of determination 210 is YES, it is checked whether or not notification of a communication result report is set by e-mail (determination 211). When the result of determination 211 is YES, the communication result report created for the image information communication operation at that time is transmitted to the e-mail address of the communication request source using e-mail (processing 212), and this operation ends. To do.
[0052]
Further, when the result of determination 211 is NO and when the result of determination 210 is NO, it is checked whether or not the terminal is set to output a normal communication result report (determination 213). . When the result of determination 213 is YES, a communication result report in a predetermined format (without a mail address display field) is created, and the communication result report is recorded and output from the plotter 6 (process 214). finish. If the result of determination 213 is NO, this operation is terminated at that point.
[0053]
In this way, in this embodiment, after the image information transmission operation requested by e-mail is completed, when the e-mail address is received from the communication partner and stored, it is received in the communication result report. Since the stored mail address of the other party is added to the e-mail sender (communication request source) by e-mail, the communication request source at that time is sent to the destination at that time It is possible to quickly recognize that image information can be transmitted to the designated user via the Internet, which is very convenient.
[0054]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the network facsimile apparatus is always connected to the Internet via the local area network LAN has been described. However, the present invention also applies to the case where the network facsimile apparatus is intermittently connected to the Internet by dial-up connection. The invention can be applied in the same way.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, after the image information transmission operation requested by the e-mail is completed, when the mail address is received and stored from the communication partner, the reception is included in the communication result report. The mail address added to the other party's address is sent to the e-mail sender (communication requester) at that time by e-mail. It is possible to quickly recognize that image information can be transmitted to the user designated as the destination via the Internet, and an advantage that it is very convenient is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile apparatus FX.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of an example of processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX after completion of image information communication.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another part of an example of processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX after completion of image information communication.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of an example of processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX after completion of image information communication.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of another example of processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX after completion of image information communication.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the remaining part of another example of processing executed by the network facsimile apparatus FX after completion of image information communication.
[Explanation of symbols]
FX network facsimile machine

Claims (1)

In a network facsimile apparatus having a function of performing image information communication via a local area network or the Internet, and a function of exchanging facsimile data using a predetermined facsimile transmission procedure with a facsimile apparatus via a public network,
When the image information communication with the facsimile apparatus is completed via the public network, the mail address is included in the information received and stored from the other terminal at that time, and the communication result report is notified by e-mail. Is set in the local terminal, it is determined whether or not the user has input an individual ID for the communication, and if it is input, it is input to the e-mail address corresponding to the input individual ID. If not, the communication result report is transmitted to the administrator e-mail address registered in advance using e-mail, while the information received and stored from the other terminal at that time does not include the e-mail address, or If the terminal is not set to notify the communication result report by e-mail, the e-mail address is added from the communication result report. Network facsimile apparatus characterized by comprising a communication result report output means for recording outputs those omitted scan display field as a communication result report.

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